It’s always sad when a favorite local restaurant closes, but it’s an even bigger heartbreak when that restaurant has been in business for decades. I can think of countless local restaurants that closed over the course of the pandemic, including a few that I was hoping would return but simply haven’t. Even though things are getting back to “normal,” some local spots are still closing.
After 35 years in business, a popular Michigan restaurant is closing its doors for good. Part of the reasoning appears to be a staffing shortage, which is something many establishments are dealing with right now.
That restaurant is Shanghai Ichiban in Kentwood. The Yang family announced the news on Facebook earlier this week, stating they were “retiring our family business.”
“Shanghai Ichiban will be permanently closed effective immediately,” they said in the Facebook message. “After 35 wonderful years of serving the Grand Rapids area, we are retiring our family business. Thank you so much all for your support over the years! While we will miss our customers and employees, we will always remember the amazing memories made and the patronage from the local community and those who traveled from afar. Thank you again and we wish you all the best.” They signed it “The Yang Family” with a heart.
As expected, Yang’s Facebook post is garnering lots of attention. At the time I’m writing this, it has garnered more than 300 likes and 100 shares, which shows the strong community support for the establishment. Shanghai Ichiban has actually been temporarily closed since Jan. 1, 2022, again, due to a staffing shortage. The restaurant was located at 3005 Broadmoor Ave. SE. Do you have a favorite restaurant or local business that shut down over the past few years? Reach out to me on social media and give me the story behind your favorite spot.